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Nellie Smith, 96

Nellie Smith, 96, of Sargent died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at the Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Sargent. The Father Jim Hunt will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Sargent. Visitations will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent, with a 7 p.m. wake service at the church. Nellie K. Brass was born Nov. 4, 1915, west of Comstock. She was the seventh child of 11 born to Albert "Bert" and Edith (Joslyn) Brass. Nellie moved with her family to Sargent when she was 4-years-old and received her formal schooling in the Sargent Public Schools. Nellie graduated from Sargent High School with the class of 1935.She married Steve David Smith Feb. 14, 1939. They made their home near Sargent for the first years of their marriage and later moved to the farm north of Sargent, where they raised their two children. Nellie was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Sargent. She enjoyed playing cards and was truly blessed to have special friends that cared for her and saw that she was able to play cards every week. She loved Nebraska football and volleyball and could be heard yelling when things weren't going well. Her greatest joy was her family and she was always ready to attend her great-grandchildren's games and school events. Nellie was blessed with good health and a great memory for her 96 years. She was able to live in her own home and remained very independent except for the last six weeks after a fall. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Steve, who died in 1970; sisters, Evalin Brass and Meleda Buckbee; brothers. Robert, Garold, Edwin, Loren "Ornie", Wendell "Bud", Albert and Orson "Jack". She is survived by daughter, Kay Sandoz and husband Dave of Valetine; son, Al Smith and wife Ruth of Sargent; Jerry Grause, who made his home with the Smiths for several years and his wife Dolly of Sargent. She is also survived by eight grand children, Cami Eynetich, Kayla Hunt, Kent Sandoz, Amy Kozeal, Matt Sandoz, Jill Davis, Steve Smith and Nate Smith, and 22 great grandchildren. Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent is in charge of arrangements.